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APPARATUS F OR APPLYING ADHESIVE TO SHEET MATERIAL Original Filed Jan. 24, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 May 15, 1962 c.w.D1DDE ETAL 3,034,476

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50 W 25 06 L L j 4 E /Z A?? United States Patent O 3,034,476 APPARATUS FOR APPLYING ADHESIVE T SHEET MATERIAL Carl W. Dirlde, 1629 Dover Road, and Donald A. Glaser, 1520 West, both of Emporia, Kans.

Original application Jan. 24, 1955, Ser. No. 483,790, now Patent No. 2,846,214, dated Aug. 5, 1958. Divided and this application May 5, 1958, Ser. No. 732,950

7 Claims. (Cl. 118-3) This invention relates to apparatus for handling sheet material and, more particularly, I'to an improved machine for applying an adhesive to sheets of paper in predetermined order.

Since a knowledge of the disclosure of our prior U.S. Letters Patent No. 2,568,224, issued September 18, 1951, for Paper Gathering Machine, will not only `facilitate an understanding of certain broad principles common to apparatus of this general class, but will also expedite recognition of the nature and signicance of the improvements contemplated by the present invention, such prior disclosure is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

This is a division of our application Serial No. 483,790, tiled January 24, 1955, entitled Sheet Detector for Paper Gathering Apparatus now US. Patent 2,846,214.

The primary object of this invention is to provide improved paper handling and adhesive applying apparatus possessing increased operating versatility and dependability.

Amorig the most important specific objects of this invention are the provision of paper handling and adhesive applying apparatus adapted to receive various sizes of sheets with equal reliability and without substitution of parts; the provision of such apparatus capable of adhesively interconnecting the sheets of an assembled stack automatically during handling thereof to present a unitary pad; and the provision of such apparatus having means for positively assuring that one, but only one, of each kind of -sheet to be included in an assembled stack is actually included in each of the latter in the proper order.

Another very important object of this invention is the provision in such apparatus of synchronized, moving, adhesive applicator means, including contact-responsive dispensing structure to assure disposition of `a proper quantity of adhesive to each of the sheets along one margin of each of the same.

Still other important objects of this invention, including certain important details of construction, will be made clear or become apparent as the description of the invention progresses.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of apparatus made in accordance with this invention, with parts broken away and certain details omitted in order to clarify the illustration of major elements;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of such lapparatus. with parts broken away and some details omitted;

FlG. 3 is a transverse, cross sectional view of such apparatus taken vertically through such apparatus showing one stack position and the main structure associated therewith with parts broken away and some details omitted;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view of such apparatus taken from the side opposite to that shown in FIG. 2, parts being broken away |and some details omitted;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line V-V of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a view, partly in end elevation and partly in section, of one of the adhesive applicators and its mounting structure;

ice

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional View taken on line VllI--VLI of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is lan enlarged, fragmentary View, partly in elevation and partly in section, of the automatic table raising mechanism;

FIG. 9 is a perspective diagram of certain of the power transmitting and translating mechanisms used in the apparatus.

Referring to FIGS. l, 2, 3 and 4, a frame assembly generally designated 50 is provided and may include, as -illustrated, opposed, elongated, lower side assemblies 52 and 54; a number of longitudinally spaced cross-pieces 56 interconnecting side assemblies 52 `and 54; a pair of front posts 58, a pair of rear posts 60 and a number of pairs of intermediate posts 62 interconnected with assemblies 52 and `54 and extending thereabove; a pair of elongated, upper, side members 64 and l66 interconnecting the upper ends of posts 58, 60 and 62; a rear guard 68; a pair of opposed, forward, side plates 70 and 72; a pair of motor and pump-supporting platforms 74 and 76 on front posts 58; `a front housing 78 partially shown in FIG. 2; and other bracing, supporting and housing structures, including come to be hereinafter more `fully identiiied and others of a desirable but optional nature, such as guard covers for cer-tain moving parts, whichl may be of any conventional construction and constitute no part of the invention claimed. Frame assembly 50 is preferably supported upon and secured to a number of mounting blocks 77 resting upon and secured to -a oor or the like 7 9.

As shown in FIG. 2, the main drive motor is mounted upon the platform 74, and it will be understood that a pump drive motor and the pumps operated thereby are preferably mounted on platform 76 and are behind the housing 7S in the mentioned figure. The main drive motor is coupled, preferably through a speed-reducing gear box (not illustrated), with a rotatable, horizontal, main drive shaft S0 suitably journalled and supported upon frame assembly 5S forwardly of front posts 58. A main drive sprocket 82 and an auxiliary drive sprocket 84 are rigidly mounted on drive shaft 80, Four horizontally and vertically spaced, conveyor shafts parallel to drive shaft are provided and rotatably mounted on frame assembly 50, such shafts more particularly being identified as the lower front conveyor shaft 85, the lower rear conveyor shaft 88, the upper front conveyor shaft 90, and the upper rear conveyor shaft 92. A driven sprocket 94 is rigidly mounted on the lower front conveyor shaft 36 and is coupled with main drive sprocket 82 on drive shaft 80 by means of an endless chain 96. As illustrated, means in the nature of an idler sprocket 98 rotatably mounted upon a swingable lever :100, which lever is biased by an adjustably mounted spring 102, is preferably provided for maintaining the desired tension on chain 96.

As most clearly shown in FIGS. l, 2 and 9, lower front conveyor shaft 86 is provided with a pair cf spaced conveyor sprockets 104 and 105, lower rear conveyor shaft 88 with a pair of sprockets 10-8 and 110, upper front conveyor shaft with a pair of sprockets 112 and 114, and upper rear conveyor shaft with a pair of sprockets 116 and 1:18. Trained over sprockets y104, 108, 112 and 116 is an endless conveyor chain 128; and a second endless conveyor chain 122 is trained over sprockets 106, 110, 114 and 1,18 in spaced relationship to chain 120. Chains 120 and 122 thus transmit power from shaft 86 to each of shafts S8, 90 and 92.

PIG. 9, in particular, also illustrates the majority of other power transmitting and translating assemblies utilized in the present apparatus. Lower front shaft 86, besides carrying driven sprocket 94 (shown only in FIG. 2) and conveyor sprockets 104 and V106, is also provided with a pair f similar, eccentric cams 124 and 126 adjacent sprockets 104 and 106 respectively and with an individual, eccentric cam 128 adjacent cam 124. Upper front shaft 90 is provided with an individual, eccentric cam 130 adjacent sprocket 112, and with an individual, eccentric cam 132 as well as an individual, eccentric cam 134 adjacent sprocket L14.

As shaft `36 is rotated, the pair of cams 124 and 126 respectively impart reciprocatory movement to a pail' of elongated bars 136 and 138, which are provided with followers 140' and 142 respectively and are each yieldably biased in the direction of the corresponding cam 124 or 126 by any suitable spring means (not shown). Bars 136 and 138 are each supported by pivotal connection as at 144 and 146 respectively with a corresponding set of crank plates 148 and 150, one each of which is illustrated `in FIG. 9. Each of the crank plates 148 is in turn pivoted as at 152 to a bracket 154 on lower side assembly 52, while each of the crank plates 156 is similarly pivoted yas at 156 to a bracket 158 on lower side assembly 54, as also shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4. Each crank plate 148 is further provided with an upwardly extending, vertically reciprocable rod 160 pivoted to plate 148 as at 162, and each crank plate 151i is similarly provided with such a rod 164 pivoted thereto as at 166. As crank plates 148 and 150 are swung by horizontal reciprocation of bars 136 and 138, rods 160 and 164 reciprocate vertically for purposes hereinafter to be made clear.

Rotation of shaft 86 also imparts swinging movement to an arm 168 pivota-lly mounted adjacent one end thereof on frame 50 as at 17 0, by virtue of the action of cam 128 upon a follower 172 carried by arm 168 intermediate its ends. A rod-like element 175 is pivotally connected at its lower extremity, with the opposite end of arm 168 as at 176, and has its upper extremity pivotally connected as at 178 with a crank member `180 mounted on a rotatable portion 182 of a telescoped, suction pipe assembly 184. As arm 168 is swung, element 174 reciprocates vertically to swing crank 18() and rock portion 182 relative to the remainder of pipe 184.

As shaft 90 is rotated, cam 138 acts upon a follower 186 provided on a horizontally reciprocable, elongated member `188, to reciprocate the latter. It is to be understood that any suitable means (not shown) are provided for reciprocably mounting member 188 on frame 56 and for yieldably biasing the same toward cam 130.

Cam 132, which likewise rotates with shaft 98, actuates a follower -194 provided on a triangular plate 196, which is in turn swingably mounted on front post 58 as at 198, to swing plate 196 about pivot 198. As indicated in FIG. 2, plate 196 is yieldably biased toward cam 132 by spring means 260 and is provided with a lateral extension 202 having the functions hereinafter disclosed.

Rotation of shaft 90 moreover rotates cam 134, which in turn reciprocates horiontally reciprocable, rod-like member 294 having a cam-engaging follower 286. Member 204 is also mounted for reciprocation on frame 51) and is yieldably biased toward cam 134 by any suitabie means which will not be here detailed.

Finally, with respect to FIG. 9, there is illustrated one of a number of adhesive applicators 208 provided in the apparatus of this invention. Each applicator 208 is elongated, extends transversely of frame 50, is rotatably mounted on the latter by means hereinafter described, and is provided with a sprocket 210 in operative relationship with chain 122, whereby the applicators 298 are rotated as chain 122 is advanced by rotation of shaft 86 and, accordingly, sprockets 106, 110, 114 and 118.

It will be clear, therefore, that rotation of shaft 86, by its driving connection with power shaft 80 through sprocket 82, chain 96 and sprocket 94, results in: (1) rotation of cams 124 and 126 diereon causing reciprocation of bars 136' and 138 and, in turn, swinging of plates 148 and 150 and reciprocation of rods 160 and 164; (2)

rotation of cam 128 thereon causing swinging of arm 168 and, in turn, reciprocation of element 174, swinging of crank 180 and rotation of pipe portion 182; and (3) rotation of sprockets 194 and 106 causing advancement of chains 120 and 122 and, in turn, rotation of sprocket pairs 168-110, 112--114 and 116--118 and their respective shafts 88, and 92, as well as rotation of sprockets 210 and, accordingly, applicators 20S. Rctation of shaft 90, in turn, results in: (l) rotation of cam 130 causing reciprocation of member 188; (2) rotation of cam 132 causing swinging of plate 196; and (3) rotation of cam 134 causing reciprocation of member 2434. It will be obvious that such interrelationship of moving7 parts defines a cooperably timed and coordinated system of power translation and transmission. The uses made of the various available motions in the apparatus of this invention will be hereinafter made apparent. It may lbe presently pointed out, however, that, as those skilled in the art will readily understand, the sizes of the various sprockets and the sizes and shapes of the various cams are chosen and carefully interrelated to yield the cooperatively timed relationships between the operations of various working parts of the apparatus hereinafter described. Since the precise constructions of the various cams and sprockets will obviously depend upon the desired size and operational speed of the over-all apparatus, and since the considerations for constructing same will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of this disclosure, it is deemed unnecessary to describe the various cams and sprockets above-mentioned in greater detail.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 1 and 5, wherein are illustrated a number of sectionalized, paper-carrying tray assemblies 212. A plurality of such tray assemblies 212 are provided and are equally spaced along chains 12) and 122, between which they extend and by which they are carried, such spacing being at predetermined intervals chosen in accordance with the dimensions of the over-all apparatus and the disposition and timing of operation of other working parts of such apparatus, as elsewhere herein indicated.

Each tray assembly 212 includes a plurality of elongated sections 214, 216 and 218 of approximately equal widths. Rear section 214 of each tray assembly 212 comprises an elongated bar 220 extending between chains and 122 and attached at its ends to chains 120 and 122 by any suitable bracket and fastening means 222, and a number of L-shaped, laterally extending, coplanar plates 224 spaced along the forwardmost edge of bar 228, extending forwardly from the latter and secured thereto by screws or the like 226. The lateral spacing between plates 224 presents a number of notches 228 therebetween extending across a major portion of the width of the section 214. The intermediate section 216 of each tray assembly 212 is disposed immediately forwardly of the'section 214 thereof and is likewise elongated and eX- tends between chains 120 and 122. Each section 216 is secured at its ends to chains 120 and 122 by conventional bracket and fastening means 230, and is provided with a number of elongated notches 232 spaced along its forwardmost edge in alignment with notches 228 of the adjacent section 214. Each section 218 is disposed immediately forward to the corresponding section 216, is substantially similar to the latter, is provided with spaced notches 234 along its forwardmost edge in alignment with the notches 228 and 232 of sections 214 and 216, and is secured at its ends to chains 120 and 122 by bracket and fastening means 236.

Each tray 212, or more specifically, each section 214 is provided with a number of laterally spaced, upstanding rear paper stops 238 and with a number of laterally spaced, upstanding, rear paper holders 241) secured upon the rearmost edge of the section 214. Each holder 246 includes an L-shaped bracket portion, as best shown in FIG. 5, and is provided with a loosely swingable, gravitaapague tionally biased element 242 pivoted at its upper extremity to the L-shaped bracket portion of holder 248 as at 244. As will hereinafter become more apparent, when a tray 212 advances beneath a sheet of paper being held thereabove in a manner hereinafter to be explained (not shown in FIGS. l or the rear edge of the paper engages elernent 242 of holder 246, thereby swinging element 242 rearwardly to permit passage of said edge of the paper between element 242 and bar 229 of section 214; element 242 then swings back to its normal gravitated'position to hold the paper upon section 214 with the rear edge of the paper abutting stops 238 and the rear legs 0f the holder brackets 248.

Still referring to FIGS. l `and 5, there is provided upon the forward part of frame 50, preferably extending between `front posts 58 adjacent the tops of the latter, a crosspiece 246 to which are secured in any suitable fashion a plurality of vertical plates 248. Each plate 248 extends rearwardly from crosspiece 246 and is provided at its rear extremity with a pointed, rearwardly extending, stripper element 256. As will be clear from the drawings, there is a plate 246 and a stripper element 259 for each set of notches 228-232-234 in the trays 212, and the elements 250 are so disposed as to enter in succession the notches 234, 232 and 228 as the portions of chains 129 and 122 adjacent tray sections 214, 216 and 218 respectively commence their downward movement `around conveyor sprockets 112 and 114. Elements 250 function, therefore, to strip from trays 212 any papers carried by the latter just as the trays 212 start to descend from their theretofore horizontal course toward the front of the apparatus.

Manifestly, the facts that the trays 212 are sectionalized and that each section 214, 216 and 218 of each tray 212 is notched as at 228, 232 and 234 respectively, makes it possible for sheets of paper of Virtually any size to be positively removed from the trays 212 by the stripper elements 250. With conventional, prior constructions, such result could not be obtained, and it was necessary to either substitute entirely different paper carrying trays or to make an adjustment of stop means thereon in the apparatus for each range of paper sizes to be handled.

Referring now especially to FGS. 2, 3, 4 and 8, Wherein are illustrated the means for receiving a plurality of piles of paper or other sheet material to be gathered and assembled into stacks including a single sheet from each pile arranged in predetermined order and the means for automatically raising each of such pile receiving means to an operative position and maintaining the same at such position as sheets are removed from the pile thereon, it will rst be noted that each of the intermediate posts 62 is provided with an inwardly facing, vertical channel member 251 thereon so that each pair of opposed posts 62 present a pair of opposed, vertical tracks 252 for receiving a number of guide rollers 254 rotatably mounted on opposite sides of a vfeed table assembly 256.

Each of the feed table assemblies 256, of which there is one for each opposed pair of intermediate posts 62, includes a pair of spaced-apart, parallel side plates 258 and 260 interconnected by a vertical back plate 262 and carrying a top 264 secured thereto in any suitable fashion. Top 264 is, of course, adapted to receive a pile of paper or cut sheet material and to lift the later as the assembly 256 is raised to a position Where apparatus hereinafter to be described may remove the sheets from the pile one at a time lfor placement upon -a tray 212 as the latter passes the particular position or station defined by that pair of opposed posts 62, its table assembly 256 and the other structure associated therewith.

Each channel member 251 is provided adjacent its lowermost end with a lateral extension 266 upon which is rotatably mounted an idler sprocket 268. Each of posts 62 is provided adjacent its upper end lwith a bearing 271). Bearings 270 rotatably mount a shaft 272 upon which are rigidly alxed a spaced pair of small sprockets 274 and a larger sprocket 276. The pair of sprockets 274 are disposed directly above the pair of sprockets 268 and each corresponding pair of sprockets 268 and 274 carries an endless chain 278. Fastening means 280, which may be of conventional type, is provided on each of chains 278 and connect the latter with the feed table assembly 256, whereby table 256 may be raised and lowered as the chains 278 progress in one direction or the other about sprockets 268 and 274.

A cross member 282 extends between each opposed pair of intermediate posts 62 and is rigidly secured to the latter by means 284. A number of elongated, vertical paper guide elements 286 are adjustably secured to cross member 282 and serve to maintain the front edge of the pile of papers or cut sheet material upon top 264 of table assembly 256 in vertically aligned disposition. Other elongated vertical guide elements 288 are provided and also secured to the cross element 282. As indicated in FIG. 3, top 264 of table 256 may be provided, as shown for illustration, with a number of perforations 299 disposed to coincide with perforations which may be encountered in the type of papers that have been punched to accommodate carrying pins for facilitating handling. A

r pair of such elongated, vertical guide pins 292 are shown supported adjacent their lowermost ends by means 294 provided on guides 288 and extend upwardly therefrom through perforations 290' of top 264 to a level slightly above that of the top of the pile of papers upon table yassembly 256 when the latter is in operative position. Mounting means 294 for pins 292 are preferably hinged to guides 238 and include an oppositely disposed pivotal connection 296 in order that pins 292 may swing slightly in any direction to prevent binding between pins 292 and perforations 298 as the table assemblies 256 are raised or lowered. Pins 292 may include a threaded coupling 298 to permit securernent of pins 292 upon mounting means 294 when papers stacked on such pins 292 -for handling are being piled upon the table assembly 256 for processing in the apparatus. When papers are not so preloaded on pins 292, the latter may obviously be removed. The use of pins 292, when used, thus serve to supplement the action of guide elements 286 and 288 in lmaintaining the papers of a pile upon the assembly 256 in properly aligned condition.

Referring now particularly to FIG. 8, there is illustrated the means by which chains 27 8 are automatically operated to maintain each table 256 in proper operative position in response to the number of papers remaining in the pile carried by the table assembly 256. There is provided on each intermediate post 62 on the side of the apparatus carrying upper frame member 66 a box-like housing 300 including a mounting plate 362. A stub shaft 364 is rotatably journalled upon mounting plate 382 in parallelism with shaft 272. Stub shaft 364 carries a sprocket 386 which is operably connected with large sprocket 276 of shaft 272 by an endles chain 388. Shaft 364 also carries a ratchet wheel 31? and a hand crank 312. A swingable dog 314 is pivotally mounted upon plate 35i-2 and yieldabl-ybiased by a spring 316 toward engagement with ratchet 3l@ for preventing retrograde movement of the latter. A swinga'ble lever 318 pivotally mounted upon frame 30 as at 320 is engageable with dog 314 and may be manually swung upwardly as in FIG. l0, to raise dog 314 yout of engagement with ratchet 318 to permit manual operation lof crank 312 to move chains 278 for quickly raising or lowering the table assembly 256 to a desired starting position. It should be noted, however, that table 256 will be automatically brought to the desired operating position, even in the absence of adjustment by hand crank 312, by the mechanism about to be described.

It will be observed that the reciprocable member 188 passes through the housing 368 and is provided within the latter with a triangular projection 322. A swingable plate assembly 324 is rotatably mounted upon shaft 304 and carries thereon a follower 326 engageable with the sloping edge of projection 322 when plate assembly 3524 is swung sufficiently counterclockwise in FlG. 8 and member 138 is reciprocated to the right in said figure. A ratchet engaging dog 328 is pivotally mounted upon plate assembly 324 as at 330' and normally rests upon the upper surface of ratchet wheel 310 by virtue yof the action of gravity. Since the whole plate assembly 324 also tends by the action of gravity to swing counterclockwise as shown in FIG. 8, it will -be clear that in the absence of means arresting such counterclockwise movement of plate assembly 324, follower 4326 will be engaged by projection 322 of reciprocating member 13S each time the latter is reciprocated to the right in FiG. 8, and that plate assembly 324 will thereby be swung clockwise moving dog 32S to advance ratchet wheel 310 one step in a cloclrwise direction as shown in said ligure. Such rotation of ratchet wheel 310 will rotate shaft 304 md, through sprocket 306, chain 308 and sprocket 276, will also rotate shaft 272 and sprockets 274 to advance chains 278 in a direction for raising the table assembly 256.

in order to control such raising of the table assembly 256, there is provided a horizontal shaft 332 rotatably mounted upon frame t) in any suitable manner and carrying a crank 334 having a number of paper sensing fingers 336 adapted to rest upon the top paper of a pile 338 thereof when the latter has been raised to a certain height. Plate assembly 324 is provided with a suitable bracket 340 adapted to receive in slidingl relationship thereto an elongated rod 342 which is pivot-ally attached to the crank 334 at one end thereof as at 344 and is threaded `on the opposite end thereof extending through bracket 340 as at 346. An internally threaded extension 343 receives threaded portion 346 of rod 34 for adjustment of the length of rod 342 disposed ybetween bracket 340 and crank connection 344 against the yielding bias of a spring 350 disposed between bracket 340 and a pin 332 allixed to rod 342. The action of gravity upon plate assembly 324 normally pulls rod 342 downwardly and to the left as shown in FIG. 8, thereby yieldably biasing the paper sensing fingers 336 in a downward direction upon the topmost paper in pile 338. As continued reciprocation or" member 188 and consequent advancement of ratchet wheel 310 raises table assembly 256 and pile 333 thereon, the fingers 336 are gradually swung upwardly, thereby rotating crank 334 clockwise as shown in FIG. 8, and pulling rod 342 toward the right. Such action swings the plate assembly 324 in a clockwise direction as shown in the ligure and toward a position where reciprocation of mem-ber 13S will no longer cause suflicient engagement between projection 322 and follower 326 to result in advancement of the sprocket ywheel 310 by the dog 323. rIhis, of course, is the equilibrium situation by which further raising of the table assembly 256 is automatically prevented once the latter has reached the desired operative position by the `action of the pile 338 upon the sensing fingers 336 and the swinging of plate assembly 324 to an inoperative position as just described. Obviously, as sheets are removed from the top of pile 338 as hereinafter explained, sensing lingers 336 will gradually swing downwardly until plate assembly 324 is swung to a position again resulting in ladvancement of the ratchet Wheel 310 and raising of the table 256 to the desired operative position.

FIGURES l, 2, 3, and 4 illustrate means for lifting the Vtop sheet of a pile of paper or the like carried by each table 256 therefrom and depositing the same upon a tray 212 while the latter continues to move by virtue of the continuous advancement of conveyor chains 120 and 122. Each vertically reciprocable rod 160 and 164 is provided at the uppermost end thereof, which is slightly above the Vupper frame members 64 and 66, with a bearing assembly 354. The bearing assemblies 354 of each opposed pair of rods 160 and 164 rotatably carries an elongated tubular element 356, which extends laterally across the apparatus.

La' Each tube 356 is coupled by a flexible hose 35S with a corresponding outlet on sleeve of a suction valve assembly generally designated 364.

lt is to be understood that the relative timing between reciprocation of rods 160 and 164, the operation of suction valve amembly 364 through rocking of pipe 182, and the advancement of conveyor chains and 122 is such that the sucker lift assemblies 376 are lowered into contact with the uppermost sheet of paper or the like upon the feed table assembly 256, that suction valve 364 will then operate to create a suction in lift assemblies 37 6 for picking up such top sheet of paper, that rods 160 and 164 will then be reciprocated to lift the end of such sheet of paper disposed toward the next advancing tray 212 above the path of travel of the latter, and that the suction in lift assemblies 376 will be continued by valve 364 until such tray 212 has passed completely under the lifted sheet vof paper and been properly emplaced upon the top of such tray 212. Valve 364 will then operate to cut off the suction in lift assemblies 376, thereby releasing the paper for travel with the tray 212 upon which it has been deposited. It will be noted in FIG. 2 that one end of each suction tube 356 is provided with a depending crank element 394 engageable by an adjustable stop 396 upon reciprocating rod 204. The reciprocation of such rod 204 is timed so that stop 396 operates upon element 394 to rotate tube 356 through a small arc just as pick-up of the sheet of paper from the stack upon tray 212 is being accomplished. This results in a swinging of the lift assembly 376 from its normal perpendicular relationship with the sheet of paper and aids in the separation of the top sheet of paper from the sheets therebelow.

Attention is now directed particularly to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4 wherein the numeral 400 generally designates a sheet detector. One of such sheet detectors 400 is provided for each material lifting table 256 and is supported rigidly upon a crosspiece 402 immediately adjacent the path of reciprocation `of the corresponding suction tube 356 and the lift assemblies 376 mounted on the latter.

Referring now to FIGURES l, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, and 9, there is illustrated the construction of the glue applicators 20S as well as their disposition. lt will be noted that one glue applicator assembly 208 is provided for each feed table 256 or, more commonly stated, at each station of the apparatus ofthe invention.

As will be most clear from FIGS. 2 and 6, a pair of spaced, upstanding rods 502 and a similar pair of spaced, upstanding rods 504 are respectively mounted upon side members 66 and 64. Rods 502 are parallel and interconnected by crosspieces 506 and 508 which are vertically spaced upon Ithe rods 502. Slidably mounted on rods 502 between crosspieces 506 and 508 is a vertically reciprocable bearing block 510. Similarly, rods 504 are parallel and are interconnected by spaced crosspieces 512 and 514 to limit the movement therebetween of a vertically reciprocable bearing block 516 slidably mounted upon the rods S04. Each of blocks 516 is biased downwardly by spring means 51S and the extent of its downward travel limited by an adjustable screw 520 in crosspiece 514, the spring 518 being interposed between crosspiece 512 and the block S16. Comparable spring means 520 and limit means 522 are provided for reciprocable block 510. Rotatably journalled in blocks 510 and S16 is a tubular shaft S24 extending beyond each of the blocks S10 and 516. Shaft 524 is closed at one end as at 526 and is placed in communication with a flexible tubing 528 through suitable packing means 530 the details of which forni no part of this invention and need not be described in detail. A container 532 for glue or other adhesive is disposed above the end of sha-ft 524 in communication with tubing 528, and the latter communicates With container 532 to carry a supply of adhesive into the interior of tubular shaft 524. A sprocket 210 is provided on each shaft 524 and is adapted for rigid connection thereto by any suitable clutch assembly 534. Sprocket 210 is in engagement with conveyor chain 122 9 as hereinbefore described, so that shaft 524 is rotated at predetermined speed.

Disposed at spaced interrals and in alignment along the length of hollow shaft 524 are a number of individual glue spotting assemblies broadly designated by the numeral 536. Each gluing assembly 536 comprises a hollow, elongated tube 53S threadably mounted at one end thereof in shaft 524 as at 540. A bore 542 extends longitudinally through each tube 538 and is provided with an cnlarged portion 544 adjacent the end of tube 538 remote from shaft 524. The end of each tube 533 is inwardly flared as at '546 to retain a small metallic sphere 548 within bore 542 but adapted for a portion of the surface of such ball 548 to extend beyond the end of tubes 538. A coil spring 550 is provided within enlarged portion 544 of bore 542 for yieldably biasing ball 548 to a position of such ball 548 to extend beyond the end of tube 538. extending partially from the end of tube 538 remote from shaft 524. Since bore 542 is in communication with the hollow interior of shaft 524, and since the latter is filled with adhesive flowing from the elevated container 532 through tubing 528 and means 530, it is clear that the bore 542 will be illed with adhesive and that same will pass into enlarged portion 544 to maintain ball 548 in a wedded condition. It will thus be clear that as shaft 524 rotates, balls 548 are `adapted to place a spot of glue upon any body with which they come in contact. In FIG. 7, the numeral 552 represents the top sheet of paper of a stack of one or more of same being carried in the direction indicated by the arrow upon yone of the trays 212. The position of the shaft 524 and its attached assemblies S36 are indicated in dotted lines in this figure for the condition when balls 54S are not in contact with the paper 522, it being noted that the bearing blocks 510 and 516 are then in their lowermost positions. As the shaft 524 continues to rotate by virtue of the driving connection between chain 122 and the sprocket 2li), the shafts 524 and assemblies 535 will arrive at the operative gluing position illustrated in solid lines in the figure, it being noted that in this condition the bearing blocks 510 and 516 have been reciprocated upwardly against the yielding resistance of springs 513 and 520 because of the upward force exerted upon the assemblies 536 by their engagement with the paper 552 on the tray 212.

Itis significant that ball 548 of each of the glue assem- Iblies 536 mus be firmly pressed against the sheet of paper 552 in order to assure positive gluing action. However, since the sheet 552 is continuously moving on a tray 212, it is manifest that such desired result could not be obtained with gluing assemblies 536 capable only of vertical reciprocation without movement in the same direction as the paper `552. The solution to the problem is to provide for rotation of the assemblies 536 in the same direction and at a -rate such that the gluing balls 548 move at exactly the same speed as the paper 552 during the period of contact therebetween. By utilizing such principle, this invention has overcome the tendency for the glue-applying means to rumple or disturb the yregister of sheets or to otherwise mar the paper 552, while still assuring that the desired gluing action will be accomplished in a positive manner.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 1, 2, and 9, there is illustrated in detail the means for delivering stacks of papers removed from trays 212 by the stripper elements 250 to an endless conveyor belt 600 illustrated in FIG. l, which delivers the stacks to an operator or receptacle not shown. The particular advantage of the delivery means to be described is its ability to receive stacks of papers from the stripper elements 250 and rapidly remove the same from the trays 212 without disturbing the register between newly glued sheets included in the stack. A set of lower delivery rollers 602 are rigidly mounted on a shaft 604 which is in turn rotatably mounted on plates 248. Shaft 604 has a sprocket 606 mounted adjacent the end thereof. A rocker shaft 608 is rotatably journalled in upstanding brackets 610 and rigidly carries thereon a rocker arm 612. Rotatably journalled in the opposed rocker arm 61.2 is an upper delivery roller shaft 614 having a number of upper delivery rollers 616 rigidly mounted thereon and disposed directly above lower delivery rollers 602. Shaft 60S is rotatable through an arc swinging arm 612 to move rollers 602 and 616 into and out of engagement with each other. Sprocket 606 is driven by a chain 608 trained over drive sprocket 84, a driving sprocket `622 for conveyor belt 600, an idler sprocket 618 on shaft 608 having integrally formed therewith a gear 620 and other idler sprockets to rotate rollers 602 in a direction for advancing stacks of papers stripped from tables 212 by the elements 250. Gear 620, which is driven by its integral sprockets 618, meshes with a gear 624 rigid to shaft 614 to rotate the latter and thereby upper delivery roller 616 regardless of the rocked position of -arms 612. Rigidly attached to shaft 608 is a crank extension 630 adapted to lbe swung by the projection 202 on cam-operated plate 196, as will be most clear in FIGS. 2 and 14.

It should now be understood that the operation of the plate 196 through engagement of follower 94 with cam 132 is so timed as to swing the crank extension 630 for rotating shaft 608 to raise upper delivery roller 616 out of contact with lower delivery roller 602 at the instant when the leading edge of a stack of papers from a tray 212 is being delivered therebetween. As soon as such stack of papers has passed a short distance between the roller 602 and 616, the cam 132 operates to permit swinging of crank 630 to rock arm 612 counterclockwise as shown in FIG. 5 to a position where lower delivery roller 602 and upper delivery roller 616 are tightly engaging and feeding the stack of papers therebetween toward conveyor belt 600. Since such stack of papers is not gripped by rollers 602 and 616 until it has passed partially therebetween, the tendency for such rollers to disturb the register of newly glued sheets is avoided.

Operation Although the operation of the apparatus of this invention will no doubt be obvious to those skilled in the art from an examination of the `accompanying drawings in light of the foregoing description of the structure involved, `a summarized statement of the manner of operation of the apparatus may be helpful to those not familiar with this general class of equipment.

Assume first, then, that an operator has placed upon the top 264 of each of a plurality of the spaced, feed table assemblies 256, a pile or stack 338 of sheets of paper or other material to lbe assembled into pads or the like with a sheet from each pile 338 included in each pad and arranged in predetermined order corresponding to the relative location of the assemblies 256, it being noted that the sheet from the pile 33d on the assembly 256 nearest the direction from which conveyor chains and 122 advance over assemblies 256 will be on the bottom of the pad, and sheets from piles 33S on assemblies 256 disposed along the path of travel of chains 120 and 122 will be progressively disposed atop the sheet from the first mentioned pile 338. Assuming that the sheets in different piles 338 are of dierent colored stock, are differently printed or are otherwise distinguishable and require particular arrangement in the finished pads or the like, the great utility of the apparatus will be apparent, If the sheets are perforated adjacent one edge thereof, which is often the case with the types of sheets used in the assembly of many types of pads, the pins 292 may be utilized to maintain the sheets of each pile 338 in aligned or neatly stacked array upon the assemblies 256. If the sheets are not so perforated, the guide elements 286, as well as additional guides (not shown) which may obviously Vbe provided if desired, serve the same general purpose as that preferably performed principally by pins 292.

The operator may then, by adjusting each of the manual hand cranks 312 with lever 318 swung upwardly to raise dog 314 out of engagement with ratchet 316', move the chains 27S corresponding to each feed table 256 to position the latter so that the uppermost sheet of each pile 338 is properly engaged by the fingers 336 and disposed for #being lifted from the pile 338 by the sucker lift assemblies 376. The manner by which hand cranks 312 are adapted to accomplish such positioning of the feed tables 256 will be clear particularly in FIG. 10.

With the piles 33d of sheets to be assembled thus disposed upon feed tables 256 and the latter properly positioned, the main power switch may be closed to energize the main drive motor and the pump drive motor. Energization of the main drive motor results in commencement of advancement of the conveyor chains 120 and 122 through the operable connections therebetween. Energization of the pump drive motor operates the suction pump and the pressure pump to supply suction pipe assembly 184 and a compressed air line 802 respectively.

VCompressed air line 8d2 is coupled through a plurality of feed lines S04 (see FIG. 3) with a plurality of outlet nozzles 3% (see FIGS. l and l0), which direct a continuons stream of air toward the forwardmost ends of the sheets of each pile 338 to expedite the separation of the top sheet thereof from the underlying ones when such top sheet is contacted by the sucker lift assemblies 376. The vacuum line 18e is coupled'through valve assemblies with the sucker lift assemblies 376 and the sheet detectors 4%!) provided for operation in conjunction with each of feed table 256.

Advancement of conveyor chains 120 and 122 results in similar advancement of the spaced trays 2l2 carried thereby. As the trays 212 reach a predetermined position relative to the feed tables 256 toward which they are advancing, cam t28 and its follower and connecting assembly 186-l1'2--174-176 operate to rockingly rotate section 182 of vacuum line 184, thereby operating suction valve assemblies 354 in the manner hereinbefore described in detail. The operation of such valve assemblies 364i results, first, in the supply of suction to the sucker lift assemblies 376 during the time that they are lowered toward the uppermost sheets of the piles 338 by means of the crank and connecting assembly 5tl-64, the time that they contact and lift such uppermost sheet from each of the piles 338 and carry the same to operative positions relative to the sheet detectors dill) and until the suction supplied to lift assemblies 376 is cut oft to drop the sheets upon the trays 212 which meantime have advanced to positions passing thereunder.

As the sheets from piles 338 are deposited upon trays 22, and as the latter are advanced by conveyor chains E29 and y122, sprockets 21) are operated to rotate adhesive applicators 203 in synchronization with the advancement of trays 212 so that glue assemblies 536 will Contact the trailing edge of the uppermost sheet upon each tray 22 to apply a spot of adhesive thereto. It will be clear that, as each tray advances to the next operative position for receiving another sheet from the next pile 338 thereupon, the spots of adhesive applied at the last operative position or station will serve to adhesively hold such last deposited sheet upon that portion of the pad of sheets theretofore gathered upon the tray 212. It may be noted that the operative station closest the delivery end of the apparatus normally has its applicator assembly S not supplied with adhesive material, the action of the applicator assemblies 536 being utilized merely to press the last deposited sheet down upon the underlying, adhesive bearing sheets. The uniquely advantageous results attained with the adhesive applicator means 26S forming a part of this invention are attributed largely to the fact that the applicators 20S are rotating in synchronization with advancement of conveyor chains 12() and 122 in such manner that the applicator assemblies 536 and particularly the sheet contacting spheres 543 travel with the sheets upon each tray 212 at the same rate of movement as such sheets upon the trays 212. This obviously prevents shifting of register, rufiiing and other undesired effects.

As the section trays 212 approach the delivery end of the apparatus, the pads upon the trays 2112 are stripped therefrom by the stripper elements 25u. Due to the sectioned nature of trays 212, such action is independent of the dimensions of the sheets or assembled pads within wide limits. The pads are then received by delivery rollers oil?. and 616 which advance the pads to the delivery conveyor belt 660 without disturbing the register thereof. Y

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. Apparatus for applying adhesive to sheet material comprising an endless conveyor having means for supporting a sheet thereon; means for normally advancing the conveyor continuously; an adhesive material applicator having a plurality of openings defining a limited Zone from which said material may be dispensed; means for moving said zone of the applicator into and out of engagement with a sheet supported on the conveyor and including power operated structure connected to said applicator for moving the latter during said interval of engagement for travel of said zone in substantially the same direction and at the same speed as said sheet supported upon the advancing conveyor; and means for dispensing adhesive material from each of said openings of the applicator to only one point on said sheet when said zone is in engagement with said sheet.

2. The invention as set forth in claim 1, wherein said applicator is mounted for rotation about an axis spaced above said conveyor, said zone of the applicator being radially spaced from said axis a distance substantially equal to the spacing between said axis and the conveyor, and said applicator is operably coupled with the conveyor for rotation of the applicator as the conveyor is advanced.

3. Apparatus for applying adhesive to sheet material comprising an endless conveyor having means supporting a sheet thereon; means for normally advancing the conveyor continuously; adhesive applying means cornprising an elongated, tubular member having a closed end; means rotatably mounting said member with its longitudinal axis substantially horizontal and spaced above said conveyor for rotation of the member about said axis thereof; power means operably coupled with said member for rotating the latter in the Sme direction and at the same speed as said sheet supported on the advancing conveyor; a plurality of elongated, tubular applicator elements mounted on said member for rotation therewith and extending substantially radially therefrom; and means for supplying liquid adhesive material to the opposite end of said member and thereby to said applicator for elements to dispense adhesive material from each of said elements to only one point on said sheet.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein said elements are spaced from each other and disposed in a straight row extending longitudinally of the member.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein each applicator is provided with a normally closed valve device having parts extending beyond the end of the element remote from the member and adapted to be shifted for opening of the device upon engagement of said parts with a sheet of paper during rotation of the applying means.

6. Apparatus for applying adhesive to sheet material comprising an endless conveyor having means for supporting a sheet thereon; power operated means coupled with said conveyor for normally advancing the latter continuously; adhesive applying means disposed adjacent said structure and including an elongated tubular member adapted to receive adhesive material; means rotatably and shiftably mounting said member with its longitudinal aris parallel with said conveyor for rotation about said axis and movement toward and away from the conveyor; a plurality of elongated tubular adhesive applicator elements mounted on said member for rotation therewith and extending radially therefrom, said elements being of a length to cause the outer extremities of said elements to engage a sheet on said conveyor and shift the member away from said conveyor; means for snpplying adhesive to said member; and power operated' means coupled with said member for rotating the latter at the same speed and in the same direction as that of the conveyor irrespective of the position of the member relative to said conveyor.

7. Apparatus for applying adhesive to sheet material comprising movable structure for supporting a sheet of material; adhesive applying means disposed adjacent said structure and including an elongated, tubular member having a closed end; means rotatably and shiftably mounting said member with its longitudinal axis substantially horizontal for rotation of the member about said axis thereof and movement toward and away from the structure; means for rotating the member; means for biasing the member toward the structure; a plurality of elongated, tubular applicator elements mounted on said member for rotation therewith and extending substantially radially therefrom, the outer extremities of said elements being engageable with a sheet of material on said movable structure during rotation of the member and forward advancement of said sheet of material; and means for supplying liquid adhesive material to the opposite end of said member, the latter being shifted from its normal position in a direction away from said structure and against the action of said means biasing the member toward the structure, during engagement of said elements with the sheet of material.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,184,798 Ward May 30, 1916 1,986,039 Ackley Jan. 1, 1935 2,062,900 Nagy Dec. 1, 1936 2,268,876 {agley Jan. 6, 1942 2,533,794 Zanetti Dec. 12, 1950 2,753,836 Forslund July 10, 1956 2,782,756 Hunt Feb. 26, 1957 2,806,443 Horn et al. Sept. 17, 1957 2,811,943 Ferguson et al Nov. 5, 1957 2,875,726 Annees Mar. 3, 1959 

